Should i remove damaged toenail

Toenails may take 12 to 18 months to grow back. Injured nails may look different when they grow back. Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor or nurse call line if you are having problems.

It's also a good idea to know your test results and keep a list of the medicines you take. Call your doctor or nurse call line now or seek immediate medical care if:. Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor or nurse call line if:. Author: Healthwise Staff. Care instructions adapted under license by your healthcare professional. If you have questions about a medical condition or this instruction, always ask your healthcare professional.

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Please turn on JavaScript and try again. Important Phone Numbers. When should you call for help? Separation caused by injury is common in people who have long fingernails. The nail may pry away from the nail bed when it is hit or jammed. Severe or repetitive toe stubbing may cause a toenail to detach. This is also common in athletes who wear shoes that aren't roomy enough.

Fungal nail infection , which occurs when fungi invade a fingernail or toenail and the skin underneath the nail nail bed. Toenails are more commonly affected than fingernails, and symptoms include cracked, yellow, discoloured, streaked, thickened, or spotted nails. Skin conditions, such as psoriasis. Chemicals, such as acetone nail polish removers or some soaps.

Medicines, such as chemotherapy or antimalarial medicines. Severe illnesses. How is it treated? File any sharp edges smooth, or trim the nail. This will help prevent catching the nail and tearing it more. Trim off the detached part of a large tear, or leave the nail alone. Detached toenails are usually safe to remove, and they will typically grow back within a year and a half. A detached toenail can result from an injury or infection. Fungal infections or injuries may require additional medical attention to help ensure the toenail grows back properly.

In this article, we discuss what to do when a toenail is falling off. We also look at what causes a detached toenail and when to see a doctor. If the underlying cause is not treated, it can prevent the nail from growing back properly, or at all.

An infection may require medication. There are several common causes of a nail falling off. These include fungal infections, injuries, and psoriasis. There are some less common causes, such as medication side effects and other illnesses, which do not affect many people. Fungus can grow on many areas of the body, including between the nail and the nail bed. When this occurs, a person runs the risk of the toenail falling off.

However, there are some signs a person can look out for before a nail a detaches. The signs of fungal infection include:. Fungal infections can develop for many reasons and are more likely to occur when the skin or nail is broken. Key causes and risk factors include:. Treating fungal infections is often tricky. It may require topical creams, oral antifungal medications, or sometimes a combination of the two.

Preventing toenail fungus may be easier than treating the infection. Removing a damaged toenail yourself could lead to serious complications that end up making matters worse.

Toenails can become damaged for a variety of reasons, from trauma to fungal infection to complications from an ingrown toenail. In many cases, these conditions can be treated without removing the nail.

A doctor can determine the cause and full scope of the problem and help you understand all your options. Crucially, there could be more damage to your toe than is visible to the naked eye. Any misstep and you may end up adding to your problems , and needing more intervention than if a doctor performed the procedure in the first place. A doctor will use properly sanitized instruments in a completely sanitized environment. The introduction of the slightest bacteria can raise the risk of developing a toe infection , with symptoms such as:.

You may only succeed in exacerbating the problem. Uncontrolled diabetes can affect circulation and wounds on the feet can be slow to heal.

Other things that can cause poor circulation include:. You could end up with a thickened , misshapen, or ingrown nail , which could put you right back where you started — or worse off.

Be sure to let the doctor know if you have diabetes or another condition that can affect the feet. After a physical examination of your toes, your doctor may find it necessary to order an X-ray. Your doctor can determine if you may benefit from other treatments or partial removal of the nail. First, the affected toe will be thoroughly cleaned with surgical soap or alcohol.